People check their phones about 150 times a day and on average they spend around three hours on mobile apps. Today, with our busy lives, consumers increasingly look to what mobile applications can offer them.
Shopping on the go with access to a wide range of choice is a great enticement which e-commerce sites can provide to their customers via mobile apps in order to boost customer support. 70% of brands are adapting their business to the rise in mobile usage.
Mass merchant (81%) and pure online retailer apps (77%) from stores like Target, Walmart, and Amazon are the most popular types of shopping apps
To capitalize on the shift to mobile app shopping, businesses must offer an efficient and rewarding mobile user experience (UX) that compliments the larger omnichannel experience. Retail apps should work seamlessly with other purchasing channels, such as the mobile web and brick-and-mortar stores.
Once you have the knowledge and tools you need to execute a solid app strategy, you’ll realize it will come as naturally as any other sales channel you’re currently running.
Advantages of Running a Mobile App for E-Commerce
• Mobile phones are a powerful tool that makes daily tasks easier, in all fields.
• Since apps are downloaded specifically to be used, marketing messages channeled through these apps are apt to receive better response than those sent via other marketing channels such as email.
• Businesses can gather useful data for determining consumer behavior from the apps to offer personalized promotions.
• With stylish and intuitive apps that deliver personalized promotional messages, businesses can easily connect with their clients on a deeper level.
How to Improve your Apps Customer Experience
Mobile apps offer features that desktop and mobile websites cannot. Here are ideas on how to maximize the experience, convert sales, and retention – keeping customers coming back for more.
1. Optimize your app’s visibility by giving potential app users a preview of the experience your app can offer. Mobile shoppers are already searching the App Store and Google Play Store for the latest shopping options.
• Make your app stand out and dominate search rankings.
• Utilize the app description to win app store users over.
• Create attractive and compelling screenshots to display in your app store listing. Make them want to experience all that your app can do.
2. Create a beautiful app design that puts your brand front and center. Embrace the branding your customers love throughout every page within your app.
3. Make your app journey as intuitive as possible. Organize your homepage to feature your best-selling or seasonally relevant products.
4. Push notifications always have the potential to make a customer feel special—and that drives app opens and sales conversions.
5. Incentivize your customers whenever you can with lucrative deals and what the customers loves.
6. Online “parties” are the latest trend for retailers with large social followings. They’re a way to engage your shoppers’ as you display new products, announce a sale, hold contests, and much more. Use these events to let your customers know that these deals will only be available on the app. That will make them want to download, browse, and most of all, buy.
7. Make checkout as painless as possible for your customers
The mobile app’s superpower is customer retention. Lots of incentives, and always reminding them of new product collections or social media events, will have your customers hooked—and you’ll be just as fanatic about your repeat buyers.